Rolling On

Bill Chapin’s passion for cars is rooted not only in what the cars look like or how they perform, he’s also inspired by the history and people behind the cars. Chapin ’72, president of the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Mich., says, “The stories that make up the hall of fame are powerful and relevant; the cars are illustrations.”

Photo: Marvin Shaouni
1964 VW Beetle

The hall of fame was established 75 years ago when 90 to 95 percent of the global car business was linked to the Detroit area. The current facility was built in 1997 to showcase the collected stories of the people behind the business. “Cars aren’t the focal point,” says Chapin, “which is why there are only five on permanent display and one on loan. I think cars are the payoff. The hall of fame ties people to the cars.”

Chapin’s favorite story is about Heinrich Nordhoff, a German industrial engineer renowned for his success with Volkswagen. Nordhoff, who was inducted into the hall of fame in 1985, assumed leadership of the bombed-out Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, shortly after World War II. “Nordhoff literally moved into the facility and lived there, even though it had no roof. He re-created and rebuilt the factory and began to do the same to the car, improving and increasing production,” says Chapin. “When Nordhoff began to export cars to the U.S., he sold two in the first year. But he believed export was the way to go. He had vision and passion.”

The shiny green 1964 Beetle on display barely begins to tell the story. The car sits against a backdrop of pictures of the Wolfsburg factory, technical drawings, and related displays. Says Chapin, “The key is taking the history and putting it in the context of today. The story is relevant because not only is VW still in Wolfsburg and still building cars, but the company has plans to become the No. 1 car manufacturer in the world by 2018.”

Visitors also will find one of Thomas Edison’s first electric cars, circa 1900; the inventor was inducted in 1969. For a variety of reasons, Edison’s car failed, but the idea is going strong. Chapin explains, “Edison was the consummate inventor. His car is a great reminder that today isn’t the first time the automotive industry has developed electric cars. What’s old is new again.”

See slideshow

Slide 1

The Stories Behind the Cars

Bill Chapin ’72

Photo © Marvin Shaouni

Bill Chapin ’72, president of the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Mich., is part of Detroit’s automotive history. Chapin’s grandfather founded Hudson Motor Car Co., and his father was chair and CEO of American Motors. Today, Chapin teaches hall-of-fame visitors about the world’s automotive history and occasionally leads 90-minute tours of the exhibits. Chapin is shown sitting on the running board of a Ford Fordor, a 1927 four-door sedan.

Slide 2

The Stories Behind the Cars

1968 S800 Honda RSC

Photo © Marvin Shaouni

Soichiro Honda, a 1989 Automotive Hall of Fame inductee, co-founded the Honda Motor Co. in Japan shortly after World War II. Honda’s motorcycle line was successful, but the company’s first cars, which at that time were about one-third the length of the contemporary American-made Cadillac, were not well-received. Mr. Honda, who appreciated the value of marketing and media, used race cars—such as the 1968 S800 RSC shown here—to successfully change the public’s perception of his company’s automobiles. To the left of the Honda is a 1964 Volkswagen Beetle.

Slide 3

The Stories Behind the Cars

History of American Car Culture Timeline

Photo © Marvin Shaouni

This impressive timeline illustrates the history of American car culture in the 20th century. The mural, which is 12 feet high and 65 feet long, was painted on a wall in the Automotive Hall of Fame by American artist John Gable.

Slide 4

The Stories Behind the Cars

1958 BMW Isetta

This 1958 BMW Isetta has a single door in the front and rear wheels 19 inches apart. “The egg-shaped Isetta is a wonderful example of entrepreneurial vision,” says Chapin. “Money was tight in post-war Europe, and the market for BMW’s luxury cars was in dire financial shape. But the Isetta, made by an Italian motorcycle manufacturer, was practical and got more than 50 mpg. So in the early 1950s, BMW licensed the rights to Isettas, and they sold well. This daring and innovative move by the people at BMW is an important example of the creativity that saved the company.” Photo courtesy of Automotive Hall of Fame

Slide 5

The Stories Behind the Cars

1912 Flanders

In 1908, Walter Flanders left Ford Motor Co. to co-found the Everitt-Metzger-Flanders Co. in Detroit. The Flanders family donated this 1912 car to the Automotive Hall of Fame.

Slide 6

The Stories Behind the Cars

1948 Chrysler Town and Country woody

The Lincoln Highway, started in 1913, was the first transcontinental highway in the U.S., connecting New York City with San Francisco. The highway’s conditions weren’t always optimal, so “Road Out” signs, similar to the one shown here, often marked detours or alternative routes. Beyond the road sign is a 1948 Chrysler Town and Country woody.